Snow-fence.



' .H. J. SGHWEITZER. SNOW FENCE.

- I APPLICATION FILED APB. 10,1909, I I I 942,147, Patented Dec.7,1909;

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H. l. SGHWEITZER.

SNOW FENCE.

APPLI'OATION IILED APB-.10, 1909.

942,147. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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HERMAN J. SCI-IWEITZER, 0F PUTNEY, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SNOW-FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

Application filed. April 10, 1909. Serial No. 489,059.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN J. SOHWEITZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Putney, in the county of Brown and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow-Fences, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fences.

The object of my invention is to provide a portable, vertically adjustable metallic fence, constructed in sections, arranged to be placed adjacent to railroad right-ofways, to serve as a shield to prevent the formation of snow drifts across the railway tracks.

A further object is to provide an adjustable, non-burning fence, the panels of which may be folded upon one another, during the seasons that the fence is not used as a shield or guard.

WVith these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as .will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended: claims, it being understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 shows an end View of a fence constructed according to my invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, with portions broken away, Fig. 3 is a top view, with portions broken away, Fig. 4 is a section on line t4 of Fig. 5, Fig. 5 shows a vertical sectional view through one of the carrying sleeves, Fig. 6 shows an enlarged detached detail of the supporting sheave, Fig. 7 discloses an enlarged detached detail of the securing cap. Fig. 8 shows a front elevational view showing the fence in a raised position. Fig. 9 shows an end view disclosing the panels in a folded condition.

Railway companies in certain sections of the country, are compelled to erect shields and guards adjacent to the track, to prevent the drifting of the snow across the tracks. This is usually accomplished by erecting fences which act as windbreaks to interrupt the course of the wind. This interruption results in the formation of eddies which cause the wind to move in a circular direction creating drifts, and these drifts at the points of interruption later act as barriers and prevent the drifting of the snow beyond the obstruction.

In carrying out the object of my invention, I employ two hollow standards 5. These standards may be in the form of tubes or be square in cross section. For commercial reasons, however I prefer using open seam tubes, within the seam or lengthwise slot 6 of which is held and guided a bracket used in supporting the panel forming the fence. My fence is made up in sections and each section comprises two such slotted standards 5. At the bottom I close each standard 5 by means of a stop block 7, while at the upper end each standard is closed by means of a cap 8. Each cap 8 in turn carries a double hook 9 as clearly shown in Fig. 7. Each standard 5 near its upper end is further provided with the bearings 10, these bearings holding the trunnions 11 of the sheaves 12 as clearly disclosed in the drawings. midlength, and at a point opposite to the slot 6 each standard has secured to it a hook 13, while near the lower end and at a point opposite the slot each standard is provided with the staples 14 which staples are adapted to removably receive the supporting pins 15 used in anchoring the lower ends of these standards.

Held within each standard and passing over the sheave 12 is a pliable connection in the form of a chain or cable 16. Each chain at its upper end has a hand link or loop 17 by means of which the same may be raised or lowered within the standard. These chains within the standards are provided with sleeves 18 these sleeves being held in spaced relation. These sleeves are arranged to freely move within the standard, and each carries a pin 19 which is made to extend through a link of the chain as clearly disclosed in Fig. 5.

Held to each sleeve 18 is a bracket 20 each bracket having a downwardly and obliquely extending ear portion 21, and the upwardly extending offset end 22. As shown, the offset end 22 is held within the slotted standard while the ear 21 projects beyond the same. To each car 21 is secured a panel carrying arm 28 these arms carrying the metal sheathing sections 24 forming the panel of the fence.

While I have shown Approximately and described the arm 23 as being secured to the ear 21 it should be understood that the arm 23 may form a continuation of the bracket 20.

The brackets 20 and the arms 23 are connected in sets of twos by means of the horizontally held sheathing sections 24:. To further strengthen the panels of the fence which are in the form of sheet metal sections, I provide the bar 26, which is curved downwardly and toward the lower edge of each panel, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 8. These fence sections are placed adjacent to the track at the most desirable angle and are secured in the ground by means of the pins 15. At their upper ends I secure each fence section by means of a forked bar 27 having two terminal eyes 28 these eyes being a suitable distance apart and arranged to engage the hook ends 9 secured to each standard cap. The fence sections are so positioned that a slight space is permitted between each set of fence sections. The lower ends of these fork bars 27 screw into the turn buckle 29 the lower member 30 of which has an opening 31 through which a suitable stake 32 is driven. These fence sections are preferably set in an inclined position toward the direction from which the most severe snow-storms usually come.

As shown in Fig. 8 the fence is made up of five panels. A greater or less number may be used. The five panel fence shown may be made to do the service of a ten panel fence, in that when the snowdrift reaches the upper panel, the fence panels are raised so that the lower panel will occupy the position formerly held by the uppermost panel so that in a sense one snowdrift is formed upon the other. These fence sections are made in any desirable length,-and of any suitable material. The stop block 7 limits the position of the lowermost panel.

During the season when the fence is not used as a snow guard, the pliable members are released, so that the panels will drop downward one folding upon the other. In this condition they will offer but a small surface to the wind, and being made of metal the fence will not be destroyed in case of a grass or brush fire sweeping over the same.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I do not provide a shield offering a solid obstruction to the wind but present a barrier in the form of a plurality of panels which are held at an angle and in spaced relation each panel being held a suitable distance apart so that the wind in passing through the fence is deflected, causing the formation of eddies, resulting in the snow falling and forming drifts at the point of interruption.

In order to prevent the hollow standards filling with snow I attach a sheet metal strip 34: to the ear extension or offset 22, of each bracket 20, the strip being secured by means of a bolt 5. These strips 3a cover the slot 6, bet-ween the panels 2%. \Vhen the fence is folded at the end of the snow season, these strips 34 are folded over and between the panels.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 2- 1. In combination, two hollow standards each having a lengthwise positioned slot, a pliable member held within each standard, a plurality of carrying sleeves fixed to each pliable member and held in spaced relation, a bracket secured to each sleeve and project ing beyond the slot of the standard, and a plurality of panels, each panel being carried by two oppositely positioned brackets.

2. In combination, two hollow standards each having a lengthwise positioned slot, a pliable member held within each standard, a plurality of carrying sleeves fixed to each pliable member and held in spaced relation, a bracket secured to each sleeve and project ing beyond the slot of each standard, a plurality of panels each panel being carried by two oppositely positioned brackets, and means to adjustably hold said pliable members.

3. In combination, two hollow standards each having a lengthwise positioned slot, a pliable member held within each standard, a plurality of brackets carried by each pliable member, and a plurality of panels, each panel being carried by two oppositely positioned brackets.

4. In combination, two hollow standards each having a lengthwise positioned slot, a pliable member held in each standard, a plurality of carrying means fixed to each pliable member and held in spaced relation, a bracket secured to each pliable member and projecting beyond the slot of the standard, all of said brackets extending in like direction, a plurality of panels each panel being carried by two oppositely positioned brackets, and means to adjustably hold said pliable members.

5. In combination, two hollow standards each having a lengthwise positioned slot, a carrying member held within said standard, a plurality of brackets fixed to each carrying member and held in spaced relation, said brackets extending obliquely from said carrying members, and a plurality of panels carried by said obliquely extending brackets.

6. In combination, two hollow standards having a lengthwise positioned slot, a sheave at the upper end of each standard, a chain within each standard and working over said sheave, a plurality of sleeves secured to each chain and held in spaced relation, a bracket secured to each SlGGX G each bracket having an obliquely extending arm, means to hold said chains, a plurality of panels, each panel being carried by two oppositely positioned brackets, and means to hold said standard in an upright position.

7. In combination, two slotted tubular standards, of brackets slidably held within said standards, adjustable means to hold said brackets, and a shield carried by each bracket, lying over the slots within said standards.

8. In combination, a slotted standard, brackets slidably carried within said slot, and removable shields covering said'slot between said brackets.

9. In combination, two slotted tubular standards, of brackets slidably held within said standards, adjustable means to hold said brackets, and a shield lying over the slots within said standards.

10. In combination, two standards in parallel, a pliable member adjustably held by each standard, a plurality of carriers secured to each pliable member, and a plurality of panels held by said carriers.

11. In combination, a slotted tubular standard, brackets slidably held therewithin,

adjustable means to hold said brackets, and a shield lying over the slot.

12. In combination, a hollow standard having a longitudinal slot, a pliable member held therewithin, a plurality of spaced carrying sleeves fixed on the pliable member, a bracket carried by each sleeve and projecting beyond the slot of the standard, and a plurality of panels supported by the brackets.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, a hollow standard having a longitudinal slot, a pliable supporting member therewithin, a plurality of spaced carrying sleeves fixed on the pliable member, a bracket carried by each sleeve and projecting beyond the slot of the standard, said brackets being adapted for supporting engagement with panel members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN J. SCHWEITZER.

Witnesses:

M. JoNEs, T. E. MCGEE. 

